By Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun Sentinel : The Miami Heat is among several teams mulling a possible bid for Amare Stoudemire, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The Phoenix Suns, according to numerous media outlets, have been listening to overtures regarding the veteran power forward, amid concern by the team that he might depart without compensation next summer as a free agent.

While the Heat is doing its due diligence, several other teams have gone as far as to see whether Stoudemire would be amenable to an extension if he is acquired before the Feb. 18 trading deadline.

The Heat likely would take a different approach. If anything, Stoudemire's $17.7 million option for next season could get in the way of a possible deal, since the invoking of such a 2010-11 option by Stoudemire would take the Heat out of the premium level of 2010 free agency if guard Dwyane Wade re-signs in July.

For the Heat, which likely would have to part with forward Michael Beasley in such a deal, a move for Stoudemire essentially would be a move away from the hope of a potential signing of the Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh or Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James next summer.

By Brian Windhorst, The Plain Dealer : The pressure on LeBron James to compete in the Slam Dunk Contest over All-Star Weekend next month is increasing. But the Cavaliers star doesn't seem to be moving from his spot on the fence.

"I'm still 50/50," James said before the Cavs played the Utah Jazz on Thursday night.

By Chris Tomasson, NBA FanHouse : In an interview with FanHouse before Wednesday's game at Denver, Dwight Howard was asked if there's any chance he will take part in next month's event in Dallas. Howard said last month he didn't expect to compete.

The NBA did announce Wednesday that TNT will reveal two dunkers Thursday night. The two will battle in a inaugural one-round competition at halftime of the Feb. 12 Rookie Challenge. Fans will then vote by text message or on NBA.com for which one will advance to the Feb. 13 main event.

Monday's announcement will reveal the three dunkers assured of being in the main contest. According to Howard, who has been talking with LeBron James, don't hold your breath waiting for the participation of Cleveland's superstar, who vowed last year to dunk for the first time but since has been wavering.

"Me and him are talking," Howard said. "I don't know if he wants to do it. We do a lot of dunking during the season so those dunk contests take a lot out of you ... I would love to see him get in one. But I doubt he does. I don't think he's going to do it."

By Barry Jackson, Miami Herald : Two people who spoke to the Heat said LeBron James is clearly the outside free agent most coveted by the Heat, but Miami does not want to risk losing out on other targeted stars by waiting too long. Re-signing Dwyane Wade remains the No. 1 priority.

"They're going to get a feel for who they have the best shot at and will craft their strategy accordingly," a source close to the Heat said. "They will pursue more than one guy. James is their top choice, but if they get a yes from Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire, I'd be shocked if they told either to hold on so they can wait on LeBron" -- unless Miami has strong reason to believe James is coming. "If they get one of those three, they would feel confident they can keep Wade. Their biggest anxiety is losing Wade."

The Heat expects to have between $17 million and $22 million in cap space after re-signing Wade -- enough to add a second maximum-salary player but not a third.

Though Wade has said he prefers to stay, the Heat fears he could bolt if the team does not upgrade a lot this summer. Free agents can agree to deals beginning July 1, but cannot sign until July 7.

By George M. Thomas, Beacon Journal : Teammate Shaquille O'Neal couldn't help teasing James about what he will face in New York and offered the superstar an incentive to announce his intentions Thursday night before game time.

''Five million if you do it right now,'' O'Neal teased.

''No way. I'm not doing that,'' James replied laughing.

''Ten million. Cash. In a bag at your house,'' the Cavs center countered.

Adrian Wojnarowski , Yahoo Sports : As soon as Mikhail Prokhorov reached agreement on the $700 million purchase price for the New Jersey Nets , sources say his emissaries were relentless in securing something they believed to be of the highest importance for the Russian billionaire: a sit-down with Jay-Z.

It is rare that an owner with such a small controlling interest in a franchise could inspire such dogged pursuit, but Jay-Z is no silent partner with the Nets. Immediately, insiders understood Prokhorov’s plans to woo Jay-Z pushed far beyond the music mogul’s global celebrity and Brooklyn roots. This was part of the Russian’s ambition to become intimately involved in the summer of 2010 and the most valued free agent in professional sports history: LeBron James(notes) .

As the Nets floundered with legal red tape and financial issues that threatened the proposed Brooklyn arena, the threat of Jay-Z and a flashy new building would come and go over the years. Now, it could be a far more real threat than the blah New York Knicks and historic Madison Square Garden.

The New York Post reports that Joe Smith -- whose contract was recently bought out by the Oklahoma City Thunder -- might be on the verge of re-joining the Cleveland Cavaliers once he clears waivers.LeBron James went on record on Monday to say he was in favor of the Cavs picking up Smith again, giving positive reviews to Smith as a teammate and for his work helping Cleveland down the stretch last year.

The Post also reported that the Lakers and the Hornets are expected to make runs at Smith, but that Cleveland is his expected destination.